Paper support for business machines



Feb. 21, 1967 THE|LEN 3,305,063

PAPER SUPPORT FOR BUSINESS MACHINES Filed Sept. 28, 1964 2 Sheets-Jiheet 1 IN VEN TOR ATTORNE);

Feb. 21, 1967 R. THEILEN 3,305,063

PAPER SUPPORT FOR BUSINESS MACHINES Filed Sept. 28, 1964 2 Sheets$heet 2 Fig. 3

A TTORNEY United States Patent 0 8 Claims. cr. 197-143 The present invention relates to a paper support for the carriage of a typewriter or similar business machine, and more particularly to a paper support of the type which is biassed by a spring to snap to the operative paper supporting position when manually actuated.

Paper supports serving the purpose of holding a sheet inserted into a paper carriage in an upright position permitting the reading of the typed text, are known in several constructions. One arrangement according to the prior art provides a spring for urging the paper support to its upright paper supporting position, and a catch is provided for locking the paper support in a retracted position against the action of the spring. When use of the paper support is intended, the operator releases the catch and the paper support snaps to its upright supporting position. Paper support arrangements according to the prior art require comparatively complicated mechanisms in cluding a great number of parts which are difiicult and expensive to assemble, and are subject to disturbances. Particularly the catch may be worn out after prolonged use so that it becomes impossible to lock the paper support in the retracted position.

It is one object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of known paper support constructions for business machines, and to provide a paper support arrangement of extremely simple and reliable construction, consisting only of a few sturdy parts, being easily assembled, and having a long span of life.

Another object of the invention is to provide a paper support arrangement for a business machine in which the paper support is not locked by a catch in a retracted inoperative position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a paper support arrangement for a business machine which is biassed toassume either the paper supporting position or a retracted position folded into the carriage.

With these objects in view, one emobdiment of the invention comprises a paper support mounted on the paper carriage of a business machine, such as a typewriter, for movement between an inoperative terminal position, an intermediate position, and a paper supporting terminal position; and biassing means for urging the paper support out of any position between the intermediate position and one or the other of the terminal positions to the respective terminal position.

As a result, manual movement of the paper support from either one of the terminal positions beyond the intermediate position will cause movement of the paper support to the other terminal position.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the paper support is mounted on the carriage for angular movement about a pivot. A single spring connects a point of the paper support spaced from the pivot axis with the carriage. The spring is tensioned in each of the two terminal positions of the paper support, but is subjected to greater tension in an intermediate dead center position in which the spring extends across the pivot axis.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a supporting bracket is secured to the paper carriage and has two stops against which the paper support abuts in the two terminal positions. A slot is provided in the bracket which serves as a bearing for the pivot of the paper support, so that the entire device consists of three parts only, and can be inexpensively manufactured and easily assembled.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective front view illustrating one embodiment of the invention mounted on the rear wall of the paper carriage of a typewriter, the other parts of the carriage being omitted for the sake of simplicity and clarity;

G. 2 is a rear view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing the paper support in the operative position, a part of the rear wall of the carriage being broken off for the sake of clarity; and

FIG. 3 is a rear view corresponding to FIG. 2 but showing the paper support in the retracted inoperative position.

Referring now to the drawings, an elongated paper support 1 has a free end provided with a transverse projection 2 serving as a handle, and a lower end having an abutment projection 4 whose shape is best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. A pivot means 5 is secured to paper support 1 and has a head portion of greater diameter so that a journal portion is formed on the pivot pin 5 between the head portion and paper support 1.

A bracket 7 has an attachment plate 7a secured by rivets 7b to the inner front surface of the rear wall 6 of the typewriter carriage and a portion projecting along the rear wall 6. Two stops 8 and 9 are formed by bent projections at the free end of bracket 7 and have stop faces extending at right angles to each other as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. Bracket 7 has an elongated open slot 10 whose width is equal to the diameter of journal portion 5a of pivot pin 5, and whose end is semicircular to form a bearing for the journal portion 5a. The axial length of the journal portion, corresponds to the distance between the surface of mounting portion 1b of support 1 and the inner surface of head portion 5b and support 1 is mounted for turning movement on bracket 7 by sliding the journal portion into the slot until journal portion 5a turnably engages the end of slot 10. Preferably, the main portion of bracket 7 is spaced from the front surface of rear wall 6 such a distance that the fiat portions 1b and 4 slidingly abut rear wall 6.

Rear wall 6 has the horizonal top portion 6a which is cut out to form a slot 612 between portion 6a and the vertical portion 60.

When paper support 1 is turned from the operative position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to the inoperative retracted position as shown in FIG. 3, the main portion 1a of the paper support passes through slot 6b and assumes a position located forwardly of wall portion 6c and just below top wall portion 6a.

Stop projection 8 of bracket 7 is positioned in relation to the top wall 6a that the upper edge of support 1 is aligned with the upper edge of wall portion 60 in the position of FIG. 3, with the exception of the handle portion 2 which just projects above top wall 6a so as to be gripped by the finger of the operator. Stop portion 9 of bracket 7 is positioned to engage abutment portion 4 in the operative position of paper support 1 so that the same is turnable between two terminal positions which are spaced at an angle of substantially Bracket 7 has a holding projection 3 in the form of a hook or eye to which one end of a coil spring 12 is attached. The other end of spring 12 is attached to a projecting eye portion 11 of mounting portion 1b.

Bracket 7 is so designed that holding portions 3 and 11 and the axis of pivot means in the end of slots 1t form a first triangle in the position of FIG. 2 when abutment portion 4 abuts stop portion 9, and form another triangle when the paper support abuts stop portion 8.

During movement of paper support 1 from the operative terminal position shown in FIG. 2 to the inoperative terminal position shown in FIG. 3, spring 12 passes across the axis of pivot means 5, and in this intermediate position, the holding portions 3, 11 and the axis of pivot means 5 are aligned along a straight line.

Consequently, spring 12 has its greatest expansion in this intermediate position, and tends to contract when moved slightly beyond this intermediate position in one or the other direction until it finally assumes its most contracted positions either in the terminal position of FIG. 2 or in the terminal position of FIG. 3 where further angular turning movement of support 1 is blocked by stop portions 8 or 9. It will be seen that spring 12 urges paper support 1 and more particularly the journal portion 5a of pivot means 5 into slot 10 until journal portion 5a abuts the end of the slot. Since the axis of pivot means 5 is located between holding eye portion 11 and holding portion 3 during turning of paper support 1 while spring 12 passes the axis of pivot means 5, pivot means 5 is held in the terminal positions and in all intermediate positions at the end of slot 10.

In the inoperative retracted position shown in FIG. 3, spring 11 is tensioned and exerts a turning moment in counterclockwise direction on paper support 1 so that the same abuts stop portion 8 which is spaced such a distance from the upper edge of the rear wall 6 that portion 111 of paper support 1 is aligned with the upper edge and the paper support is hidden and covered by the rear wall, with the exception of the handle 2 which slightly projects above top wall 6a and adapted to be gripped by a finger of the operator. Handle 2 includes a bent over portion located in this position in a slot. 6d of rear wall portion 6c, and a horizontal portion 2a which is located slightly above the horizontal top wall portion 6a of rear wall 6 of the carriage.

In order to move paper support 1 to its operative position, the operator engages portion 2a with her finger and pulls handle 2 with paper support 1 in upward direction. The paper support turns with pivot pin 5 in the bearing providedby the end of slot 10 to an intermediate position, not shown, in which the holding portions 3 and 11 and theaxis of pivot means 5 are aligned. During this first part of the turning movement of paper support 1 in clockwise direction, spring 12 is further tensioned since its length is increased. If paper support 1 is released during such movement any time before the intermediate position is reached, paper support 1 will move back in counterclockwise direction to the position shown in FIG. 3 and into abutment with stop portion 8. However, if the operator continues to turn paper support 1 beyond the intermediate position in which holding portions 3, 11 and pivot means 5 are aligned, the turning moment exerted by the contracting spring 12 will now be effective in opposite direction and urge paper support 1 to turn further beyond the intermediate position in clockwise direction to the operative terminal position shown in FIG. 2 in which further movement by the still tensioned spring 12 is prevented by engagement of abutment portion 4 and stop 9 of bracket 7.

It will be seen that the construction of the present invention consists of only three parts which can be assembled without tools. No catch is necessary for holding the support in one or the other terminal position, and spring 12 holds the paper support in both terminal positions against stops so that any rattling of the paper support during operation of the typewriter is prevented. The operation of the device is extremely convenient, since the operator simply turns the paper support from any position which she wishes to change toward the other position whereupon the paper support will-automatically assume the desired position.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of paper supporting arrangements differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a paper support urged by a spring out of an intermediate position to either one of two terminal positions, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a business machine having a paper carriage including a rear wall, in combination, a bracket mounted on said rear wall and having a slot having a predetermined width and terminating in a part-circular bearing face at one end, and being open at the other end; a paper support having a fixed pivot means including a journal portion located in said slot turnably engaging said bearing face so that said paper support is mounted for turning movement about the axis of said pivot means between an inoperative terminal position retracted into the region of said rear wall, an intermediate position, and an operative terminal position upwardly projecting from said rear wall, said journal portion having a diameter not exceeding said predetermined width of said slot and thus being adapted to slide into and out of said slot; and spring means c0n= nected to said paper support and to said bracket permanently pulling said journal portion of said pivot means against said bearing face of said slot so as to securely maintain said pivot means in said slot and simultaneously biasing said paper support to turn out of any'position between said intermediate position and one or the other of said terminal positions to the respective terminal posi= tion during manual movement of said paper support from either one of said terminal positions beyond said inter= mediate position.

2. In a business machine having a paper carriage i1i= eluding a rear wall, in combination, a bracket mounted on said rear wall and having a slot having a predetermined width and terminating in a part-circular bearing face at one end, and being open at the other end; a paper support having a fixed pivot means including a journal portion located in said slot turnably engaging said bearing face so that said paper support is mounted for turning movement about the axis of said pivot means between an inoperative terminal position retracted into the region of said rear wall, an intermediate position, and an operative terminal position upwardly projecting from said rear wall, said journal portion having a diameter not exceeding said predetermined width of said slot and thus being adapted to slide into and out of said slot; and an elongated spring having one end attached to a holding portion on said bracket and the other end attached to a holding portion of said paper support, said holding portions and said spring being located on opposite sides of said axis in said terminal positions, and being aligned with said axis in said intermediate position with said axis located between said holding portions permanently pulling said journal portion of said pivot means against said bearing face of said slot so as to securely maintain said pivot means in said slot and simultaneously biasing said paper support to turn out of any position between said intermediate position andv one or the other of said terminal positions to the respective terminal position during manual movement of said paper support from either one of said terminal positions beyond said intermediate position.

3. In a business machine having a paper carriage including a rear wall, in combination, a bracket mounted on said rear wall and having a slot having a predetermined width and terminating in a part-circular bearing face at one end, and being open at the other end, said bracket having a pair of stop portions; a paper support having a fixed pivot means including a journal portion located in said slot turnably engaging said bearing face so that said paper support is mounted for turning movement about the axis of said pivot means between an inoperative terminal position retracted into the region of said rear wall, an intermediate position, and an operative terminal position upwardly projecting from said rear wall, said paper support abutting said stop portions, respectively, in said terminal positions, said journal portion having a diameter not exceeding said predetermined width of said slot and thus being adapted to slide into and out of said slot; and an elongated spring having one end attached to a holding portion on said bracket and the other end attached to a holding portion of said paper support, said holding portions and said spring being located on opposite sides of said axis in said terminal positions, and being aligned with said axis in said intermediate position with said axis located between said holding portions permanently pulling said journal portion of said pivot means against said bearing face of said slot so as to securely maintain said pivot means in said slot and simultaneously biasing said paper support to turn out of any position between said intermediate position and one or the other of said terminal positions to the respective terminal position during manual movement of said paper support from either one of said terminal positions beyond said intermediate position.

4. In a business machine having a paper carriage including a rear wall, in combination, a bracket mounted on said rear wall and having a pair of stop portions and a slot having a predetermined width and terminating in a part-circular bearing face at one end, and being open at the other end; a paper support having a fixed pivot means including a journal portion located in said slot turnably engaging said bearing face, said pivot means having a head portion of greater diameter than said journal portion, and the axial length of said journal portion between said head portion and the main portion of said paper support being equal to the thickness of said bracket in the region of said slot and bearing face so that said paper support is mounted for turning movement about the axis of said pivot means between an inoperative terminal position retracted into the region of said rear wall, an intermediate position, and an operative terminal position up wardly projecting from said rear wall, said journal portion having a diameter not exceeding said predetermined width of said slot and thus being adapted to slide into and out of said slot; and an elongated spring having one end attached to a holding portion on said bracket and the other end attached to a holding portion of said paper support, said holding portions and said spring being located on opposite sides of said axis in said terminal positions, and being aligned with said axis in said intermediate position with said axis located between said holding portions permanently pulling said journal portion of said pivot means against said bearing face of said slot so as to securely maintain said pivot means in said slot and simultaneously biasing said paper support to turn out of any position between said intermediate position and one or the other of said terminal positions to the respective terminal position during manual movement of said paper support from either one of said terminal positions beyond said intermediate position.

5. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said holding portion on said paper support is located outwardly of said pivot means in relation to said slot in said bracket, and wherein said holding portion on said bracket is located on the side of said pivot pin remote from the open end of said slot so that said spring urges said paper support to a position in which said journal portion of said pivot means abuts said bearing face of said slot.

6. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said rear wall has a slot for receiving and covering said paper support in said inoperative terminal position; wherein said paper support has a free end with a handle portion, said handle portion projecting from said rear wall out of said slot in said inoperative position of said paper support.

7. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said bracket has a pair of stop portions angularly spaced at an angle of and respectively engaged by said paper support in said terminal positions.

8. The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein said paper support has a fiat mounting portion carrying said pivot means and slidingly engaging said bracket in the region of said slot, and also the front face of said rear wall.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,022,766 4/1912 Barnard 197139 1,696,236 12/1928 Helmond 197139 2,261,208 11/1941 Barkdoll 197143 2,710,681 6/1955 Lambert 197189 2,717,687 9/1955 Cereghetti 197143 FOREIGN PATENTS 653,998 12/ 1937 Germany.

1,028,137 4/ 1958 Germany.

22,087 10/ 1961 Germany.

ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner. E. T. WRIGHT, Assistant Examiner, 

1. IN A BUSINESS MACHINE HAVING A PAPER CARRIAGE INCLUDING A REAR WALL, IN COMBINATION, A BRACKET MOUNTED ON SAID REAR WALL AND HAVING A SLOT HAVING A PREDETERMINED WIDTH AND TERMINATING IN A PART-CIRCULAR BEARING FACE AT ONE END, AND BEING OPEN AT THE OTHER END; A PAPER SUPPORT HAVING A FIXED PIVOT MEANS INCLUDING A JOURNAL PORTION LOCATED IN SAID SLOT TURNABLY ENGAGING SAID BEARING FACE SO THAT SAID PAPER SUPPORT IS MOUNTED FOR TURNING MOVEMENT ABOUT THE AXIS OF SAID PIVOT MEANS BETWEEN AN INOPERATIVE TERMINAL POSITION RETRACTED INTO THE REGION OF SAID REAR WALL, AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION, AND AN OPERATIVE TERMINAL POSITION UPWARDLY PROJECTING FROM SAID REAR WALL, SAID JOURNAL PORTION HAVING A DIAMETER NOT EXCEEDING SAID PREDETERMINED WIDTH OF SAID SLOT AND THUS BEING ADAPTED TO 